Danville Express

Newsfront - March 14, 2008

Mr. Mustang - hubba, hubba!

Beauty pageant spoof earns $2,000 for school

by Natalie O'Neill

Ten high school hunks strutted their stuff - and hammed it up for a laugh - onstage at Monte Vista High School's Mr. Mustang competition on Thursday evening last week. Students, teachers and parents cheered as the boys competed in four categories: casual wear, talent showcase, swim suits and formal wear.

"It's a spin-off on the normal, girl beauty pageants. It's really funny," said Rachel Brandt, a leadership student involved in putting the show together.

About $2,000 was raised from ticket sales and will go back to the school, said Alex Hebels, student spokesman for the event.

A panel of four teacher judges rated the contestants on each category and tallied up a winner at the end. This year Mr. January, Vinnie Butera, was named Mr. Mustang.

During the casual wear section, Butera wore a bright blue European soccer uniform and presented the judges with a pizza to spoof his Italian heritage.

The pageant was hosted by ASB president Abby Van Muijen and Rally Chairman Shaun Collins, a senior, who made jokes between competitions.

Upperclassmen filtering into the Al Gentile Theater at Monte Vista for the contest said the contestants were well known for participating in extra curricular activities.

"It's just, like, the confident guys who are enthusiastic," said Katie Creed, who was selling tickets before the show.

The talent portion and the swimwear portion were the biggest hits of the night, Hebels said.